When Choosing The Right Pearl Earrings

By Author: Sharon Austin
Total Articles: 25
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When choosing pearl earrings, you should first decide what type of pearl you would like and how much you are willing to spend, for all pearls are not created equal. To help determine the quality you would like and the amount you are willing to spend, you should first know a little about pearls. There are four types of pearls: freshwater pearls, Akoya pearls, South Seas pearls, and Tahitian pearls. Freshwater pearls are the least valuable of all four types. Pearls are graded A, AA, AA+ and AAA, with Grade A pearls being worth only a fraction of Grade AAA pearls.

Grading of pearls is based on several factors: pearl lustre, nacre thickness, shape, color, size, surface texture and matching. The lustre of a pearl is perhaps the most important quality, as it will reflect the thickness of the nacre. A high lustre, giving almost a mirror-like sheen, is a good indication of a thick nacre. The more thick the nacre, or protective coating formed in the oyster, the longer the life of the pearl. Finding a flawless ...
... pearl is often very difficult, but a high Grade pearl will have very few blemishes. The color of the pearl may somewhat influence price, but is more often just a matter of the buyer's preference. Size will also determine value, as the larger the pearl, the more costly. Pearls also come in a variety of shapes, but round is the most desired and will be more costly. Matching refers to how well each pearl in the pearl earrings match others in the set.

A combination of all these factors will decide the grade of the pearls, and will determine the overall quality and value. If you're looking to invest in a quality pair of earrings, be sure to choose a store which grades carefully and provides information on nacre thickness and texture. Many of the pearl earrings you will find at discount stores are of inferior quality. If quality isn't that important, these earrings will be fine, endure for a few years and look good with that basic black dress.


Sharon Austin writes articles about women and her interests--home, fashion, jewelry, career, kids, health, and hobbies. Her latest blog talks about her fascination for fashion accessories, particularly pearl bracelets and pearl necklaces. Read on to discover more about pearl jewelry.